Means for setting-up collapsible containers



MEANS FOR SETTING-UP COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 17, 1953 0 3 Sheets$heet l Feb. 18, 1936. v w BARNARD 2,031,090

MEANS FOR SETTING-UP COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 17, 1955- s Sheets-Shet 2 Feb. 18,1936. E. w. BARNARE; ,0

MEANS FOR SETTING,-UP COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed J uly 17, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I z w 62/ arrzar' Patented 5 Feb. 18, 1936 2.031.090 MEANS FOR SETTING-UP COLLAPSIBLE commas Earl W. Barnard, Morris, Ill. assig'nor to Morris Pai1;er Mills, Morris, 111., a corporation of Illi- Application July 17, 1933, Serial No. 680,741

19- Claims.

. The present inventionrelates to the setting up or erection of fibre containers, andhas particular reference to a device for the setting up of containers of-the type described in copending 5 application of Lawrence Arneson, Serial No.

680,743 filed July 17, 1933, which container is characterized by a body portion withtongues along its lower edgeand a bottom member having complementary projections adapted to inter- 10 lace with said tongues to form a rigid bottom structure for. the container, at the same time maintaining the container in erect condition.

A principal object-of the invention is to provide means for settingup a container'of the 5 described type,'in which the body portion ofthe container is interlocked with-the bottom portion without employment for additional securing means, such as metallic bands or the like.

An additional object is the provision of a I20 simple setting-up mechanism and method of erection of collapsible containers of the type described herein, I

- In the accompanying drawings:

,.Fig. l is a plan view of a device constructed in" "25 accordance with my invention;

Fig; 2 is a side view-of the device shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing an early stage in the erection of the container;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary viewshowing a later stage in the erection of the container;

f Fig; 6 is a crosssectional-view taken along line slit-Sci Fig. 5; 1

. f; 'Z is a plan view disclosing a modified form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6; and Y Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of container setting-up mechanism constructed 40 in accordance with my invention.

. pontainers of the type to which my invention pertains are provided with a fibre body portion l composed of fibre board or other similar material and having longitudinal score lines ll. At- 45 tached to thelower edge of the body portion i0 is a series of bottom-engaging tongues l2 which ordinarily extend in the plane of the body portion. These tongues are cut away adjacent each other to receive the fingers ll of. bottom m emso her it. When the tongues l2 are in the, horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, the bases of the tongues form anannular horizontal shelf or platform, the inner diameter of which is somewhat less than the diameterof the body portion ii!air-thecontainer.- The bottom member M has a sists of a round block, preferably of wood, of less (ores-'55) diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the shelf formed by the base portions of the tongues i2 and when the contalner is in erect position the fingers I 3 on the bottom member l4 partiallyoverride the shelf formed byathe tongues while the free ends of the tongues override the bottom member i4, thereby forming acfirm interlock which prevents the bottom member from being pressed downwardly beyond a horizontal position. I

10 To erect or set up this type of container I have provided a device which is effective and simple in operation. As shown in Figs. 1. to 7, the horizontal base 20 has mounted thereon a body portion receiver 2i ,the upper portion of whichis flanged outwardly into a funnel-like shape. The lower portion of the receiver is secured to a horizontal plate 22, and the latter is screwed or otherwise fastened to the base member to provide a rigid structure. The body portion receiver may be bifurcated or split in halveswhich may be pivoted together as at 23, for ease of assembly, the opposite halves being secured by a suitable bolt, as shown at 24. In its'interior the body portion receiver will correspond to the shape of the body portion of the container which ordinarily will be circular in cross section.

Within the body receiver 2i is mounted a bottom member positioning element which condiameter than the diameter of the receiver 2|,

T and siirrounded by a metal band 26, the latter having projections 21 extending upwardly above the wood block and suitably space'd to receive the fingers i3- on the bottom member it. As will be seen-in Figs. 1, 4, and 6, the bottom member is held in spaced relation from the lowest part of the body portion receiver 2i and is pre-. vented from rotation by means of engagr.-nent of the projections 2'1 with the fingers i3.-

Mounted on the base 20 is a reciprocating plate 28 which operates in a substantially horizontal plane. The plate is provided with a base frame 29 and track plates 30 along the edges of the base frame. A'n end plate 3i is provided to limit the outward movement of the plate. This plate is adapted toreciprocate in a. horizontal slot 32 in the body receiver. The slot 32 and plate 28 are located ona slightly higher level than the level of the bottom member positioning element 25 so that when the plate 28 is in its inner position it forms a false bottomfor the body portion receiving member As the false bottom completely closes the body portion receiver 2 I, the body por- 56 tion of a container may be positoned on the false bottom without contacting the bottom member,

as will be seen in Fig. 4. When the plate 28 is reciprocated to its outer position, the body portion receiver 2| is entirely open and the body portion of the container may then be pressed downwardly into engagement with a bottom member. Ordinarily, the plate 28 is biased toward its outer position by the action of spring 88 acting on one end of the fulcrumed lever 84, the opposite end oi the lever pressing againstpin 85 mounted on the plate 28. It will be seen that inward movement of the plate 28 is against the action of the spring. By grasping the handle 35 on plate 28 the latter may be pressed to its inner position. To maintain the plate in this inner position a springpressed catch 81 is provided, the point 88 of which engages notch 88 in the plate 28. When it is desired to retract the false bottom from the body portion receiver 2 it is merely necessary to press upon the handle of the catch 81, whereupon the hook 88 is released from the notch 88 and the spring 88 causes the plate to slide to its outer position, the reciprocal action of the plate being illustrated in Fig. 1.

To erect a container withthis device, a bottom member I4 is placed on the bottom member positioning element 25 in such a manner that the fingers I8 on the bottom member are engaged between adJacent projections 21 of the metal band 28.

The plate 28 is then pressed to its closed position and engaged with the catch 81 to form a false bottom for the body portion receiver.

A collapsed body portion is then distended into substantially cylindrical form and pressed downwardly to the outwardly flanged open end of the body receiver 2| being canted and turned on its axis as it descends. This operation causes the tongues |2 on the bottom of the body portion to turn inwardly. As the body portion is pressed downwardly into the receiver 2|, the partially rotated tongues i2 strike the false bottom or plate 28 and are rotated thereby into the substantially horizontal position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower edge of the body portion is adjacentthe false bottom at this stage of the operation.

After the container is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the catch 81 is released and the false bottom slides out of the body portion receiver.

The body portion I8 is then pressed downwardly to the bottom of the receiver 2|, its lowermost position being shown in Figs. 5 and 6. when the edge of the body portion strikes the base 28 the tongues 2 will have been rotated upwardly by their contact with the raised bottom positioning element 25 and/or the fingers I8. If the position of the body portion is such that the fingers I! are adjacent the projections 21 on the bottom member positioning element the tongues l2 and the fingers |8 will assume an interlaced relation such as shown in-Fig. 5. That is, the fingers l8 will partially overlie the shoulder portions of the tongues 2 and the free ends of the latter will overlie the bottom member l4.

However, the body member is ordinarily pressed down into the bottom of the receiver 2| without regard to the relative position of tongues l2 and fingers l8 so that in a great many instances the tongues will be positioned adjacent the fingers themselvesand will be rotated upwardly by the latter. It is obvious that there can be no inter-' lock of the elements when in this position, but in order to obtain such a relative position between the ton ues and fingers as to eflect an interlocking relation, it is merely necessary that the body portion be twisted or rotated. When the proper position is reached the resiliency of the tongues which tend to cause them to turn to a horizontal position will cause the tongues to snap into position between adjacent fingers, thereby effecting the interlacing relation.

After the body portion of the container and the bottom member are in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the erection of the container is completed by merely withdrawing the body portion from the setting-up mechanism. The resiliency of the tongues causes them to assume an approximately horizontal position upon withdrawal of the container from the setting-up device. By inserting an inner bottom member and pressing the same downwardly against the bottom member l4 and the tongues i2, a fiat bottom is obtained. In some cases it will be found satisfactory merely to fill the container with the desired commodity for flattening out the bottom portion.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 7, the plate' 28 is arcuate in shape and its path of reciprocation is likewise arcuate. The rod 84 is pivotally secured to a pin 81 on the plate and the arm has its intermediate pivot at the center of an imaginary circle of which the path of reciprocation of the plate 28 forms a segment.

In many instances the form of device shown in Fig. 8 will be found desirable, particularly since in this modification the false bottom is eliminated. As shown in Fig. 8, the body portion receiving element 2| and its attaching flange or plate 22 are mounted on the table portion 48 of a suitable frame structure 4|. It will be-noted that the table portion 48 has an opening therein which is of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the body portion receiver 2|.

On the inside of the body portion receiver 2| and adjacent the lower portion thereof is mounted a horizontal ledge 42 which corresponds in position to the position of the member 28.01 the modification described heretofore. That, is, the ledge is positioned to receive the bottom edge of the body portion of the container. When the body portion of the container is pressed downwardly into receiver ,2|, as described heretofore, the ledge 42 causes fingers |2 on the container to rotate into horizontal position.

The bottom positioning member 25 is mounted upon a vertically reciprocating shaft 48. Below member 25 the shaft 48 is journaled in a support 44. This support carries a pin 45 which extends into a helical groove 48 in shaft 48. It will be observed that upon vertical movement shaft 48 will have a twisting action which causes the bottom positioning member 25 to rotate. Q

The lower end of shaft 48 is provided with a ball 41 which fits into a socket member 48, of vertical shaft 49, the lower end of the latter being pivotally secured to one end of a foot lever 58. By pressing the pedal 5| mounted on the opposite end of lever 58, shafts 49 and 48 and bottom positioning member 25 are moved.

A bottom member I4 is placed on the positioning member 25 shown in Fig. 8, and, after a container body portion is properly positioned in the tion of the container is complete.

In order for the bottom member to be pressed upwardly beyond the ledge 42, it is preferred that the latter be of sufllciently large inside diameter to permit clearance, although in some instances it may be found satisfactory to allow the pro- Jections on the bottom member to snap past the ledge. It will be undeistod that the outside diameter of the bottom positioning member 25 is smaller than the inside diameter of ledge 43 toprovide clearance for its being pressed upwardly with the bottom member i2 beyond the ledge.

Various other: modifications of the structure whichhas been described herein for the purposes of illustration and explanation are possible without departing'from the s'pirit of my. invention, and all such-embodiments are intended to be defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

f 1. In adevicej for setting up containers of the.

type having a body portion with tongues on the lower edge thereof adapted to interlock with a bottom member having complementary inter.-

locking elements; means for rotating the tongues along theloweredge of said body member into inwardly turned position, means for supporting a bottom member having complementary interlocking elements, and means for producing relati've motion between said body portion and bottom member, whereby to interlock said tongues and said bottom member.

2. A device for setting up containers of the type having a body portion with tongues on the lower edge thereof adapted to interlock with a bottom member having complementary interlocking means. comprising a funnel-like body portion receiving element; 'P'and a bottom member positioning element positioned in said receiving element and spaced upwardly from the lower portion thereof. a

' 3. In .a deviceffoiz setting up containers of the type having a body portion with tongues on the lower edge thereof and a bottom member having complementary "interlocking means adapted to interlock with said tongues, a flanged body portion receiver, adiottom positioning element of less diameter than diameter of said receiver positioned in said receiver/and spaced from the lower portion thereon-and aretractable false bottom operable in one position to cover said bottom positioning element. a

4. In a device for settingup containers of the type having a body portion with tongues on the, lower edge thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means adapted to interlock with said tongues, a flanged body portion receiver, a bottom member positioning element of lessdiameter than said receiver positioned in said receiver and spaced from the bottom thereof, and means on said botompositioning element for preventing rotation of a bottom member positioned thereon.

5. In a device for setting'up containers of the type having a body portion with tongues on the lower edge thereof anda bottom member having complementary interlocking means adapted to interlock with said tongues, a flanged body portion receiver, a raised bottom member positioning element located in the lower portion of said flanged body portion receiver, and a plate mounted for reciprocal motion in a substantially horizontal plane into and out of said receiver above said bottom positioning element.

6. In a device for setting up containers of the type having a body portion with tongues on the lower edge thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means adapted to in-. terlock with said tongues, a base member, a raised bottom receiving element positioned on said base.

a substantially annular body portion receiver positioned on said base in spaced relation to said bottom member positioning element, said receiver having a flanged upper portion and a horizontal slot positioned above said bottom member receiving element, a plate mounted for reciprocation into and out of said slot, and spring-pressed means tending to withdraw said plate from said slot.

'7. In a device for settingup containers of the type having a body portion with tongues on the lower edge thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means adapted to interlock with said tongues, a body portion receiver, a bottom member positioning element,

and means for producing relative movement between said receiver and said member whereby to interlock said tongues and said bottommember.

8. In a device for setting up containers of the type having abody portion with tongues on the lower edge thereoi and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means adapted to interlock with saidtongues, a body receiver being open in .its lower portion, a ledge along the inner side of mid receiver, a bottom positioning member, and means for producing vertical reciprocation of said member above and below said ledge.

9. A device as describedin claim 8, including means for rotating thebotto'm positioning member.

10. A device for setting up a fibre container of the type having a body portion with tongues hinged along the lower edg thereof and a bottom 3 member having means for interlocking with said tongues, comprising means for rotating said tongues inwardly of the body portion of the container, and means for positioning the bottom member within the body portion of the container above thelower edgethereof, whereby to permit interlocking of said tongues and said bottom.

member from 'the under side of said bottom member.

11.. A device'for setting up a fibre container of the type having a body portion with tongues hinged along the lower edge thereof and a bottom member havingmeans for interlocking with said tongues, comprising means for rotating the hinged tongues of the body portion inwardly, and means for positioning a bottom memberiwithin said body portion and spaced upwardly from, the bases of said tongues. 7 12.. A device for setting up a fibrecontainer of the type having a body portion provided with tongues at its end portion and an end closure having means for interlocking with said tongu comprising a body portion receiving member adapted to present the body portion of said carton in position for securement of said end closure, and an end closure'positioning means adapted to position the end closure of said carton in position for engagement with the tongues on said body portion when the latter. is presented by said receiving member.

13. A device for setting up a fibre container of the type having a body portion provided with inwardly deflectable tongues on its end portion and an end closure having means for interlocking with said'tongues, comprising a body portion receiving member adapted to present the body portion of a carton in position for securement of said end closure thereto, and an end closure positioning member adapted upon relative motion with said body member to enter said body member and position said end closure therewithin for engagement with said tongues.

14. A device for setting up a fibre container oi. the type having a body portion with tongues hinged along the lower edge thereof and a bottom member having means for interlocking with said tongues, comprising a body portion receiving member adapted to present the body portion of a container in distended shape and in position for securement of an end closure thereto, means i for positioning a bottom member above the bottom of and within a body'portion in said receiving member, and means for initially supporting a body member above said bottom positioning member.

15. A device for setting up collapsible tubular containers of the type having a body portion with inwardly movable tongues on one end thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means spaced from its periphery, comprising means for presenting the body portion in distended condition with the tongue members there- ;on extending inwardly, and means for presenting a bottom member inwardly of said body portion for producing an interlock with said tongues from the outer side of said bottom member.

16. A device for setting up collapsible tubular containers of the type having a body portion with inwardly movable tongues on one end thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means spaced from its periphery, comprisingmeans for presenting the body portion in distended condition with the tongue members thereon extending inwardly, means for presenting a bottom member inwardly of said body portion for producing an interlock with said tongues from the outer side of said bottom member, and means for producing relative rotation between the body portion and bottom member to align said tongues and said complementary interlocking means.

17. A device for setting up collapsible tubular containers of the type having a body portion with inwardly movable tongues on one end thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means spaced from its periphery, comprising means for presenting the body portion in distended condition with the tongue members thereon extending inwardly, means for presenting a bottom member inwardly of said body portion for producing an interlock with said tongues from the outer side of said bottom member, and means for aligning said tongues and said complementary interlocking means.

18. A device for setting up collapsible tubular containers of the type having a body portion with inwardly movable tongues on one end thereof and a bottom member having complementary interlocking means spaced from its periphery, comprising means for presenting a body portion of a container in distended condition, and means for producing an interlock between the tongues on said outer side of said bottom member.

EARL W. BARNARD. 

